HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PUNJABI LANGUAGE IN PRE-/ POST-INDEPENDENCE PAKISTAN AND THE FUTURE PREDICTIONS

Abstract

The current research aims at tracing the historical development of Punjabi language before partition and after partition. Before partition and formation of independent Pakistan, there were two groups of Punjabi speakers namely Punjabis living in Western Punjabi which is now part of Pakistan and Sikhs living in East Punjab which is now part of India. Punjabi language was adversely affected by the arrival of the British in the subcontinent and their language policies to undermine the indigenous languages. The Muslim of the United India also did not like it for its association with Sikh identity. After the formation of Independent Pakistan, Punjabi language was not given due importance. It was neither given any official status nor implemented in education sector, consequently pushing it to oblivion. The speakers of Punjabi language have a dismissive rather derogatory attitude towards their mother tongue. Different research and theoretical studies have implicated the need to emphasize the importance of Punjabi language otherwise the future seems to be in jeopardy.